FORWARD Wales leader Dr John Marek has been raising awareness of Fairtrade products while raising funds for Water Aid.

A coffee morning at his office in Regent Street was held to raise funds for the international charity dedicated to helping people escape the stranglehold of poverty and disease caused by living without safe water and sanitation.

Dr Marek said: 'I was delighted to host this event, especially as earlier in the week the United Nations International Decade for Water was launched, which aims to ensure the UN focuses on the fundamental place of clean water in poverty reduction.

'Clean water is essential for life, but more than a billion people in the world do not have it and more than two million people die from diseases related to lack of safe drinking water every year. This is clearly unacceptable.'

Mr Marek pointed out the low cost of making significant improvements - just £3 will provide the tools for a village handpump caretaker in India, for example.

The Fairtrade Sale is held every Thursday by the Wrexham Fairtrade Coalition.